by Scott YanowAllen has developed into one of the major voices of the modern jazz piano. On Maroons she brings out the best in trumpeter Wallace Roney, welcomes her mentor, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave on a few tracks and performs 15 fresh compositions, 13 of them her originals. The music is unpredictable and explorative but still tied enough to the tradition to make the results quite coherent. This is a strong example of Allen's playing and compositional talents.